INCIDENCE OF HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-INFECTION IN THE UNITED-STATES, 1976-1994 - ESTIMATES FROM THE NATIONAL-HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEYS

Precise estimates of the incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infectio n are required to assess the impact of immunization and other preventi on strategies in the United States. Race- and age-specific prevalence data obtained from the second and third National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES II, 1976-1980, and NHANES LU, 1988-1994) w ere used to estimate the annual incidence of HBV infection by catalyti c modeling. During the period covered by NHANES II, an estimated 323,4 62 persons were infected annually, and 334,863 were infected annually during the period covered by NHANES III. No statistically significant declines in prevalence of HBV infection occurred between the two surve ys, a period during which hepatitis B vaccination targeted only limite d numbers of high-risk adults.